Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, days after his dramatic arrest in Manila on charges linked to the bloody “war on drugs” he orchestrated while in office.
The 79-year-old ex-leader, who arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday, addressed the court via video link from the detention centre where he is being held. Seated in a jacket and tie, Duterte listened intently through headphones, occasionally closing his eyes. Speaking in English, he confirmed his identity but was not required to enter a plea.
For families of victims of Duterte’s drug war, the former president’s presence before international judges was an overdue step toward accountability.
“This is the first step to attaining justice,” said lawyer Gilbert Andres, who represents victims’ families. Across the Philippines, emotional scenes unfolded as people watched the proceedings live, clutching portraits of loved ones killed in the crackdown. In Manila, hundreds of protesters rallied, demanding Duterte’s conviction.
However, Duterte’s supporters denounced the arrest, calling it an illegal act of political vengeance. His lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, described his transfer to The Hague as “pure and simple kidnapping,” arguing that Duterte had been “denied all access to legal recourse in the country of his citizenship.” The former leader’s allies contend that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the case, as the Philippines withdrew from the court in 2019.
Duterte is accused of being an “indirect co-perpetrator” in thousands of extrajudicial killings spanning from 2011 to 2019—first as mayor of Davao City and later as president. According to ICC prosecutors, he actively oversaw police operations and sanctioned death squads, such as the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), which reportedly carried out assassinations under his orders.
Official estimates from Philippine authorities place the drug war’s death toll at over 6,000, but human rights organisations suggest the real number could be as high as 30,000, with victims ranging from alleged drug dealers to innocent civilians.
Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc scheduled a pre-trial hearing for 23 September to determine whether the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient for a full trial. If convicted, Duterte could face life imprisonment.
Duterte’s defence team has raised concerns about his health, stating that he had been under medical observation before his arrest. However, the ICC judge affirmed that a court doctor had assessed him as “fully mentally aware and fit.”
His daughter, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, visited him at the detention centre and later addressed supporters outside the ICC. She assured them that her father was “in good spirits” but lamented that he missed Filipino food. “There will be a day of reckoning for all,” she warned, suggesting deeper political implications for the case.
Duterte’s arrest has intensified political tensions in the Philippines. His daughter, a key political rival of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has suggested that her father’s detention is part of a broader effort to erase his legacy. Meanwhile, Marcos Jr.’s administration has faced accusations of betraying Duterte by allowing his transfer to the ICC.
